Tech designer Jeff McWhinney
wondered why women tend to wear their wedding bands more than men–and then
set out to innovate in an area that hadn’t seen change in decades. He noticed
that traditional men’s rings not only look boring, but are often impractical
for bicycling, golfing, climbing, running or anything active. They’re simply
too large, difficult to remove when playing sports and operating machinery, and
lack the level of style we’ve come to expect in women’s jewelry. However, as McWhinney told
Fast Company: “Guys don't want a blingy diamond on their ring.
It's just not our thing. What we do want is something that is functional,
well-made, and kinda trick so we can show it off to our buddies."

MEMI is an iPhone-compatible smart bracelet that discretely
vibrates when you receive important phone calls, text messages and calendar
alerts. Intended for women with purse-bound phones, MEMI allows women to
actually unplug while staying connected to the people that matter most.
According to creator Leslie Pierson, MEMI isn’t trying to get women more plugged into their
phones but instead, help them focus more on moments they care about while stripping away distraction.
It’s about unplugging, just enough, while
still having peace of mind that those who need you can still get through.

The class that I’d
like to go back to school and take is sculpture. So many times, I find myself
coveting objects that embody movement and playfulness—animated forms in waiting.
Betty Cooke’s jewelry does just that.